System, method and apparatus for acknowledging an incoming phone call

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of a method, system, and apparatus for acknowledging an incoming call includes receiving an incoming call request addressed to a first communication device from a second communication device, and forwarding the incoming call request to the first communication device. The method further includes receiving an acknowledgment indication from the first communication device that the incoming call request has been received by a user of the first communication device. The method still further includes connecting a call between the second communication device and a media server in response to receiving the acknowledgment indication. In at least one embodiment, the media server is configured to play an acknowledgment voice message to the second communication device. A further embodiment includes sending a reminder message to the first communication device if the user of the first communication device has not initiated a return call to the second communication device within a predetermined time period.

BACKGROUND

Sometimes a user of a communication device may receive an incoming calland recognize the caller associated with the incoming call, but may beunavailable to answer the incoming call or does not wish to answer theincoming call at the present time. For example, the user may be in ameeting at the time of the incoming call and unavailable to answer theincoming call without disturbing the meeting. Typically in such asituation, the user chooses to ignore the incoming call.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of a method for acknowledging an incoming call includesreceiving an incoming call request addressed to a first communicationdevice from a second communication device, and forwarding the incomingcall request to the first communication device. The method furtherincludes receiving an acknowledgment indication from the firstcommunication device that the incoming call request has been received bya user of the first communication device. The method still furtherincludes connecting a call between the second communication device and amedia server in response to receiving the acknowledgment indication. Inat least one embodiment, the media server is configured to play anacknowledgment voice message to the second communication device. Afurther embodiment includes sending a reminder message to the firstcommunication device if the user of the first communication device hasnot initiated a return call to the second communication device within apredetermined time period.

An embodiment of a system for acknowledging an incoming call includes amedia server and a switch. The switch is configured to receive anincoming call request addressed to a first communication device from asecond communication device, and forward the incoming call request tothe first communication device. The switch is further configured toreceive an acknowledgment indication from the first communication devicethat the incoming call request has been received by a user of the firstcommunication device, and initiate the delivery of an acknowledgmentvoice message to the second communication device.

An embodiment of a first communication device for acknowledging anincoming call includes a display, a user interface, a memory configuredto store computer readable instructions, and a processor. The processoris configured to retrieve and execute the computer readable instructionsoperable to: receive an incoming call request from a secondcommunication device; and generate an acknowledgment indication that auser of the first communication device has received the incoming callrequest and will not be answering the incoming call request.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which areincorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a system for acknowledging an incoming phonecall;

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the switch and media server;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a procedure for setting up a customer profilefor use in acknowledging incoming phone calls;

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a procedure for acknowledging an incomingphone call by a user of a communication device;

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of another procedure for acknowledging anincoming phone call by a user of a communication device; and

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the first communication device foracknowledging an incoming call.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many times a user with a communication device, such as a wireless phone,does not want to interrupt a conversation or meeting to answer anincoming call. In addition, the user may be driving in traffic or takinga health break and may not wish to answer an incoming call or return areceived text message at the present time. Various embodiments allow theuser to acknowledge to the caller that the incoming call request hasbeen received in order to let the caller know that the user is awarethat the caller is trying to reach them, but cannot respond immediatelyto answer the phone or return the text message. Further embodimentsprovide for reminding the person that the caller has called after apre-determined time period has elapsed. The person may then place areturn call to the caller or take other appropriate action in responseto the reminder. In some embodiments, the reminder message may operateas a “snooze” option such that a reminder message is continuously sentto the user at pre-determined time periods until the user initiates areturn call to the user or cancels the reminder.

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a system 100 for acknowledging an incomingphone call. The system 100 includes a first communication device 105. Inat least one embodiment, the first communication device 105 is a mobiletelephone. In still other embodiments, the first communication device105 may include a telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or anyother communication device. The first communication device 105 isconfigured to allow a user to receive an incoming call from a caller andestablish a communication session with the caller. In still otherembodiments, the first communication device 105 is configured to receiveaudio and/or text messages and allow the user to play back or review themessages. The first communication device 105 is in communication with awireless network 110. In at least one embodiment, the wireless network110 is a cellular network. In various embodiments, the firstcommunication device 105 may be in communication with the wirelessnetwork 110 via a wireless base station. The wireless network 110 is infurther communication with a switch 115. In an alternate embodiment, thefirst communication device 105 may be a wireless handset and may be incommunication with the switch 115 via a wireless access point. In stillother embodiments, the first communication device 105 may be a dual modehandset configured to be in communication with the switch 115 via eitherof a cellular connection or a Wi-Fi connection. In still anotherembodiments, the first communication device 105 may be located at acustomer premise location or business location and may be incommunication with the switch 115 via a wired connection.

In various embodiments the switch 115 is configured to receive one ormore incoming calls, and route the incoming calls to one or motecommunication devices to which the incoming calls are addressed, forexample, the first communication device 105. The switch 115 is furtherconfigured to route messages, such as audio and text messages, betweencommunication devices. In a particular embodiment, the switch 115 is amobile switching center (MSC). The switch 115 is in furthercommunication with a media server 120. In at least one embodiment, themedia server 120 is configured to provide voicemail, messaging, andincoming call acknowledgment services to communication devices.

The switch 115 is in further communication with a network(s) 125. Invarious embodiments, the netwotk(s) 125 is one or more of a wirelessnetwork, a wired network, a packet switched network, an ATM network, aPSTN, or any other communication network. The network(s) 125 is infurther communication with a gateway 130. In a particular embodiment,the gateway 130 is a local exchange carrier (LEC) gateway. The gateway130 is in further communication with a second communication device 135.In various embodiments, the second communication device 135 may be oneor more of a mobile communication device, a landline communicationdevice, for example, a telephone, or any other communication device.

In at least one embodiment, a caller using the second communicationdevice 135 may place an incoming call to the first communication device105. The incoming call is received by the switch 115 and forwarded tothe first communication device 105. If the user of the firstcommunication device 105 is unable or does not wish to answer theincoming call, the user may acknowledge that the incoming call has beenreceived using the first communication device 105. An acknowledgmentindication is then generated by the first communication device 105 andsent from the first communication device 105 to the switch 115 inresponse to the acknowledgment by the user, and the switch 115 thenforwards the acknowledgment indication to the media server 120. In aparticular embodiment, the user of the first communication device 105may acknowledge the incoming call by pressing a button on the firstcommunication device 105. In response to receiving the acknowledgmentindication, the media server 120 is configured to send an acknowledgmentmessage to the second communication device 135. Upon receiving theacknowledgment message, the caller using the second communication device135 is given an indication that the user of the first communicationdevice 105 is aware they are calling, but cannot or does not wish toanswer incoming calls at that time. In a particular embodiment, theacknowledgment message may include a pre-recorded audio messagepersonalized to the caller of the second communication device 135. Forexample, the user of the first communication device 105 may record thefollowing pre-recorded acknowledgment message: “John, I can't pick upthe phone right now. I'll call you back later”. In at least oneembodiment, the pre-recorded audio message is associated with a calleridentifier identifying the caller associated with the secondcommunication device 135. In a particular embodiment, the calleridentifier is caller ID information associated with the secondcommunication device 135. In still other embodiments, the acknowledgmentmessage may include a text message, such as an email or a shortmessaging service (SMS) message.

In various embodiments, the media server 120 may be further configuredto send a reminder message to the first communication device 105 if theuser of the first communication device 105 has not initiated a returncall to the second communication device 135 within a predetermined timeperiod after the user of the first communication device 105 hasacknowledged the incoming call. In at least one embodiment, thepredetermined time period is 10 minutes. In still other embodiments, thepredetermined time-period may be configured by a user of the firstcommunication device 105. In a particular embodiment, the user of thefirst communication device 105 logs into a portal, such as a web portal,to configure the predetermined time period. In still other embodiments,the user of the first communication device 105 may associate a differentpredetermined time period for each caller. In at least one embodiment,the reminder message may include a text message, such as an SMS message,an email, or an instant message. In still other embodiments, thereminder message may include an audio message. In still otherembodiments, the media server 120 may be further configured to promptthe caller of the second communication device 135 to leave a voicemailmessage to the user of the first communication device 105 after the userof the first communication device 105 acknowledges the incoming call.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment 200 of the switch 115 and media server 120. Themedia server 120 includes a pre-recorded audio message storage 205. Thepre-recorded audio message storage 205 is configured to store one ormore audio messages recorded by one or more users of communicationdevices (for example, first communication device 105), and associate therecorded audio messages with one or mote caller identifiers identifyingcommunication devices associated with one or more callers. In at leastone embodiment, the caller identifier is caller ID informationassociated with a particular communication device. For example, the userof the first communication device 105 may record one or more audiomessages personalized to a particular caller, such as the caller of thesecond communication device 135, and associate each of the pre-recordedaudio messages with a caller identifier. The media server 120 furtherincludes a reminder setup module 210. The reminder setup module isconfigured to allow a user to setup reminders for the user to return acall received from a particular caller. In particular embodiments, thereminder setup module 210 allows a user to configure a predeterminedtime period for each caller and/or the type of message that the userwishes to receive as a reminder message, such as a text message or anaudio message. The media server 120 further includes a customer profilestorage 215. The customer profile storage 215 is configured to store oneor more customer profiles associated with one or more user communicationdevices, for example, the first communication device 105. In particularembodiments, the customer profile storage 215 may store a useridentifier and a caller list associated with the user identifier. In atleast one embodiment, the caller list includes one or more calleridentifiers associated with incoming caller communication devices. Thecustomer profile storage 215 may be further configured to store anassociation of the caller identifiers with the pre-recorded audiomessages stored in the pre-recorded audio message storage 205, as wellas reminder options associated with the customer profile. In still otherembodiments, the customer profile storage 115 may be configured to storeringtones, ringers, or text messages associated with a particularcustomer profile.

In at least one embodiment, the media server 120 further includes areminder timer 220. The reminder timer 220 is configured to start atimer upon a user's acknowledgment of an incoming call, and trigger themedia server 120 to send a reminder message to the user when apredetermined time period has expired. The media server 120 furtherincludes text message storage 225. The text message storage 225 isconfigured to allow a user or users to store one or more text messagesfor use as a acknowledgment messages. The text messages in the textmessage storage 225 are then associated with one or more calleridentifiers by the user. The media server further includes a voicemailsystem 230 and a voice message storage 235. The voicemail system 230 isconfigured to prompt an incoming caller to leave a voice message for auser, record a voicemail message from the incoming caller, and store thevoicemail message in the voicemail message storage 235. The voicemailsystem 230 is further configured to allow the user to retrieve andplayback a voicemail message stored in the voicemail message storage 235at a later time.

The media server 120 further includes a processor 240 and memory 245.The processor 240 is configured to retrieve and execute computerreadable instructions from the memory 245 in order to perform thevarious functions of the media server 120 described herein. The switch115 further includes a processor 250 and a memory 255. The process 250is configured to retrieve and execute computer readable instructionsstored in the memory 255 in order to perform the various functions of aswitch 115 described herein.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a procedure 300 for setting up a customerprofile for use in acknowledging incoming phone calls. In step 305, theuser of the first communication device 105 logs into a portal. In atleast one embodiment of the invention, the portal is a web portal. In atleast one embodiment, the user logs into the portal by entering a userID and a password. In step 310, the user creates a customer profile. Thecustomer profile stores information associated with the user of thefirst communication device 105 including a phone number associated withthe first communication device 105, a caller list containing a list ofcaller identities associated with incoming callers and associations ofthe caller identifiers in the calling list with one or moreacknowledgement messages stored in one or more of the pre-recorded audiomessage storage 205 and the text message storage 225. In step 315, theuser of the first communication device 105 configures a caller list. Thecaller list includes one or more caller identifiers where each calleridentifier is associated with a communication device associated with anincoming caller. In at least one embodiment, the caller identifier is atelephone number associated with a particular communication device. Forexample, the caller list may include a telephone number associated withthe second communication device 135. In still other embodiments, thecaller list may further include a caller name associated with acommunication device associated with a communication device associatedwith one or more of the incoming callers. In at least one embodiment,the user configures the caller list by entering the caller identifier,such as a telephone number, associated with the particular communicationdevice of an incoming caller. In still other embodiments, the user mayselect a particular caller identifier from a list of caller identifiersdisplayed to the user. In step 320, the user configures one or moreacknowledgment messages and associates them with one or more of thecaller identifiers in the caller list. In at least one embodiment, theacknowledgement message is a text message, such as an email, a textmessage, or an instant message. In such an embodiment, the user mayenter a text message for one or more of the incoming callers andassociate the text message with the caller identifier associated withthe incoming caller. For example, the user may enter a text message withthe following text “John, I will call you later” for a caller identifierassociated with an incoming caller named, John. In still otherembodiments, the user may select the acknowledgement message for aparticular incoming caller from a list of standardized acknowledgmentmessages. In some embodiments, the acknowledgment message may be apre-recorded audio message personalized to a particular caller. In suchembodiments, the user may be prompted by the media server 120 to recordan audio message for a particular incoming caller. For example, the usermay record an audio message having the content, “John, I will call youback later” and associate the acknowledgment message with the calleridentifier associated with an incoming caller, John. In still otherembodiments, the user may select a standardized audio message andassociate that standardized message with a particular caller identifier.In still other embodiments, the user may chose a default acknowledgmentmessage, such as a default text or default audio message, that will besent to incoming callers that either cannot be identified or that arenot found in the user's caller list.

In step 325, the user may set up reminder options for incoming callersin the caller list. The reminder options include a reminder period foreach incoming caller. The reminder period is a predetermined time periodfor which the user desires to be reminded if he has not returned aparticular call from an incoming caller within the time period. In aparticular embodiment, the user may enter a pre-determined time periodfor each caller using the portal. In still other embodiments, the usermay select the pre-determined time period from a list of predeterminedtime periods displayed to the user. In still other embodiments, apre-determined time period, for example ten minutes, may be set as adefault period for every incoming caller unless the user chooses anotherpre-determined time period. The reminder options may further include adesired type of reminder message for each incoming caller. In at leastone embodiment, the user may select the reminder message type to be oneor more of a text message or an audio message. In various embodiments,the user may set a different pre-determined time period for the remindermessage for each incoming caller. For example, the user may wish to setthe pre-determined time period for sending a reminder message when theuser's spouse calls to be equal to five minutes, while setting thepre-determined time period for a reminder message equal to 15 minuteswhen a friend calls. In step 330, the procedure 300 ends.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a procedure 400 for acknowledging an incomingphone call by a user of a communication device. In step 405, an incomingcall request from a caller using the second communication device 135 isreceived at the switch 115. The incoming call request is addressed tothe first communication device 105. In a particular embodiment, thecaller of the second communication device 135 addresses the incomingcall request to the first communication device 105 by dialing atelephone number associated with the first communication device 105. Invarious embodiments, the incoming call request is a request to establisha voice call session between the second communication device 135 and thefirst communication device 105.

In step 410, the switch 115 forwards the incoming call request to thefirst communication device 105. The incoming call request is displayedto the user of the first communication device 105 along with the calleridentifier, such as caller ID information, associated with the secondcommunication device 135. The user is further presented with the optionof providing a user input to acknowledging the incoming call request ifthe user does not wish to accept the incoming call request at that time.In a particular embodiment, the user is prompted to press a particularbutton on a user interface of the first communication device 105 if theuser wishes to acknowledge the incoming call request. For example, theuser may be prompted to press a “1” key of the first communicationdevice 105 if the user wishes to acknowledge the incoming call request.In still other embodiments, the user may be presented with the option ofacknowledging the incoming call request by selecting from a number ofacknowledgment options displayed to the user by the first communicationdevice 105. For example, the user may select an acknowledgment optionindicating that the user will return the caller's call soon, oralternately select an acknowledgment option indicating that the userwill be busy for the rest of the day and will return the call later. Ifthe user acknowledges the incoming call request, the switch 115 receivesan acknowledgment indication from the first communication device 105 instep 415. The acknowledgment indication identifies to the media server120 that an acknowledgment message is to be sent to the incoming caller.In at least one embodiment, the acknowledgment indication identifies aparticular acknowledgment message chosen from a plurality ofacknowledgment messages that is to be sent to the incoming caller. Instep 420, the switch 115 forwards the acknowledgement indication to themedia server 120.

In step 425, the media server 120 sends an acknowledgment messageassociated with the incoming caller to the second communication device135 in response to receiving the acknowledgment indication. Theacknowledgment message provides an indication to the caller of thesecond communication device 135 that the incoming call request has beenreceived by the user of the first communication device 105, but that theuser of the first communication 105 is either unable or does not wish tospeak to the caller at that time. In a particular embodiment, theacknowledgment message is a text message, such as an email, an SMSmessage, or an instant message. In still other embodiments, theacknowledgment message is a pre-recorded audio message personalized tothe incoming caller. In still other embodiments, more than oneacknowledgment message may be sent to the incoming caller. For example,a text message may be sent to the caller's cell phone, an email messagemay be sent to an email account associated with the caller, and apre-recorded audio message may be sent to a voicemail account associatedwith the caller. In step 430, the media server 120 prompts the caller toleave a voicemail message for the user of the first communication device105. In step 435, the media server 120 records the voicemail messagefrom the caller. In an alternative embodiment, steps 430 and 435 may beomitted from the procedure 400. In still other embodiments, steps 430and 435 may be performed if the user does not acknowledge the incomingcall request.

In step 440, the media server 120 starts a reminder timer having apredetermined time period associated with the incoming caller. Thepredetermined time period is a reminder period for which the user of thefirst communication device 105 wishes to be reminded to return theincoming call request if the user of the first communication device 105has not initiated a return call to the second communication devicewithin the predetermined time period. In some embodiments, the remindertimer may start counting from the time that the incoming call request isreceived. In still other embodiments, the reminder timer may startcounting from the time that the incoming call request is acknowledged bythe user.

In step 445, the media server 120 sends a reminder message to the firstcommunication device 105 if the user of the first communication device105 has not initiated a return call to the second communication device135 within the predetermined time period. In at least one embodiment,the reminder message may be a text message sent to the firstcommunication device 105 indicating that the user has not called backthe particular caller. In still other embodiments, the reminder messagemay be an audio message sent to the first communication device 105. Inan example embodiment, the media server 120 may cause the switch 115 toring back the first communication device 105 and play the remindermessage in audio form to the user of the first communication device 105when the user of the first communication device 105 answers the ringback call. In some embodiments, the reminder message may be repeatedlysent to the first communication device 105 at intervals of thepre-determined time period until the user initiates a return call or thereminder message has been sent a pre-determined number of times. Instill other embodiments, the user may cancel the reminder messagewithout having returned the call. In still other embodiments, the usermay choose to send the reminder message to another communication deviceor messaging account associated with the user. For example, the user maychoose to send the reminder message to an e-mail address associated withthe user. In step 450, the procedure 400 ends.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a procedure 500 for acknowledging an incomingphone call by a user of a communication device. In step 505, an incomingcall request from a caller using the second communication device 135 isreceived at the switch 115. The incoming call request is addressed tothe first communication device 105. In a particular embodiment, thecaller of the second communication device 135 addresses the incomingcall request to the first communication device 105 by dialing atelephone number associated with the first communication device 105. Invarious embodiments, the incoming call request is a request to establisha voice call session between the second communication device 135 and thefirst communication device 105.

In step 510, the switch 115 forwards the incoming call request to thefirst communication device 105. The incoming call request is displayedto the user of the first communication device 105 along with the calleridentifier, such as caller ID information, associated with the secondcommunication device 135. The user is further presented with the optionof providing a user input to acknowledging the incoming call request ifthe user does not wish to accept the incoming call request at that time.In a particular embodiment, the user is prompted to press a particularbutton on a user interface of the first communication device 105 if theuser wishes to acknowledge the incoming call request. For example, theuser may be prompted to press a “1” key of the first communicationdevice 105 if the user wishes to acknowledge the incoming call request.In still other embodiments, the user may be presented with the option ofacknowledging the incoming call request by selecting from a number ofacknowledgment options displayed to the user by the first communicationdevice 105. For example, the user may select an acknowledgment optionindicating that the user will return the caller's call soon, oralternately select an acknowledgment option indicating that the userwill be busy for the rest of the day and will return the call later. Ifthe user acknowledges the incoming call request, the switch 115 receivesan acknowledgment indication from the first communication device 105 instep 515. In a particular embodiment, the acknowledgment indicationindicates to the media server 120 that an acknowledgment voice messageis to be played to the incoming caller. In at least one embodiment, theacknowledgment indication identifies a particular acknowledgment voicemessage chosen from a plurality of acknowledgment voice messages that isto be sent to the incoming caller. In step 520, the switch 115 connectsthe call between the second communication device 135 and the mediaserver 120 in response to receiving the acknowledgment indication.

In step 525, the media server 120 plays an acknowledgment voice messageassociated with the incoming caller to the second communication device135. The acknowledgment voice message provides an indication to thecaller of the second communication device 135 that the incoming callrequest has been received by the user of the first communication device105, but that the user of the first communication 105 is either unableor does not wish to speak to the caller at that time. In a particularembodiment, the acknowledgment voice message is a pre-recorded audiomessage personalized to the incoming caller. In step 530, the mediaserver 120 may optionally prompt the caller to leave a voicemail messagefor the user of the first communication device 105. In step 535, themedia server 120 may optionally record the voicemail message from thecaller. In an alternative embodiment, steps 530 and 535 may be omittedfrom the procedure 400. In still other embodiments, steps 530 and 535may be performed if the user does not acknowledge the incoming callrequest.

In step 540, the media server 120 starts a reminder timer having apredetermined time period associated with the incoming caller. Thepredetermined time period is a reminder period for which the user of thefirst communication device 105 wishes to be reminded to return theincoming call request if the user of the first communication device 105has not initiated a return call to the second communication devicewithin the predetermined time period. In some embodiments, the remindertimer may start counting from the time that the incoming call request isreceived. In still other embodiments, the reminder timer may startcounting from the time that the incoming call request is acknowledged bythe user.

In step 545, the media server 120 sends a reminder message to the firstcommunication device 105 if the user of the first communication device105 has not initiated a return call to the second communication device135 within the predetermined time period. In at least one embodiment,the reminder message may be a text message sent to the firstcommunication device 105 indicating that the user has not called backthe particular caller. In still other embodiments, the reminder messagemay be an audio message sent to the first communication device 105. Inan example embodiment, the media server 120 may cause the switch 115 toring back the first communication device 105 and play the remindermessage in audio form to the user of the first communication device 105when the user of the first communication device 105 answers the ringback call. In some embodiments, the reminder message may be repeatedlysent to the first communication device 105 at intervals of thepre-determined time period until the user initiates a return call or thereminder message has been sent a pre-determined number of times. Instill other embodiments, the user may cancel the reminder messagewithout having returned the call. In still other embodiments, the usermay choose to send the reminder message to another communication deviceor messaging account associated with the user. For example, the user maychoose to send the reminder message to an e-mail address associated withthe user. In step 550, the procedure 500 ends.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the first communication device 105 foracknowledging an incoming call. The first communication device 105includes a display 605 and a user interface 610. In at least oneembodiment, the user interface 610 is a keypad. In at least oneembodiment, the display 605 is configured to display one or moreincoming call requests to the user of the first communication device105. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the display 605 iscurrently displaying an incoming call request from a caller named John.The display 605 further displays a number of options to acknowledge theincoming call request. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the usermay press a “1” key of the user interface 610 to send an acknowledgmentmessage to the incoming caller that reads “Call you tight back”, press a“2” key of the user interface 610 to send an acknowledgment message tothe incoming caller of “In a meeting, call you later”, press a “3” keyof the user interface 610 to send a standard acknowledgment message tothe incoming call, or press “#” key of the user interface 610 to sendthe incoming call request directly to voicemail without sending anacknowledgment message.

In still other embodiments, the first communication device 105 mayinclude a touch screen graphical user interface allowing a user to pressa predetermined area of display 605 to acknowledge the incoming callrequest and/or choose a particular acknowledgment message. The firstcommunication device 105 further includes a processor 615 and memory620. The processor 615 is configured to retrieve and execute computerreadable instructions from the memory 620 in order to perform thevarious functions of the first communication device 105 describedherein.

The illustrative embodiments can take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment containingboth hardware and software elements. Furthermore, the illustrativeembodiments can take the form of a computer program product accessiblefrom a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing programcode for use by or in connection with a computer or any instructionexecution system. For the purposes of this description, acomputer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any tangibleapparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transportthe program for use by or in connection with the instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device.

The computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system(or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of acomputer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory,magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and an opticaldisk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read onlymemory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W), and DVD.

Further, a computer storage medium may contain or store acomputer-readable program code, such that when the computer-readableprogram code is executed on a computer, the execution of thiscomputer-readable program code causes the computer to transmit anothercomputer-readable program code over a communication link. Thiscommunication link may use a medium that is, for example, withoutlimitation, physical, or wireless.

The previous detailed description is of a small number of embodimentsfor implementing the invention and is not intended to be limiting inscope. One of skill in this art will immediately envisage the methodsand variations used to implement this invention in other areas thanthose described in detail. The following claims set forth a number ofthe embodiments of the invention disclosed with greater particularity.

1. A method for acknowledging an incoming call comprising: receiving anincoming call request addressed to a first communication device from asecond communication device; forwarding the incoming call request to thefirst communication device; receiving an acknowledgment indication fromthe first communication device that the incoming call request has beenreceived by a user of the first communication device; connecting a callbetween the second communication device and a media server in responseto receiving the acknowledgment indication, wherein the media server isconfigured to play an acknowledgment voice message to the secondcommunication device.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:sending a reminder message to the first communication device if the userof the first communication device has not initiated a return call to thesecond communication device within a predetermined time period.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising: setting the predetermined timeperiod by the user of the first communication device.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: generating the acknowledgment voice messageby the user; and associating the acknowledgment voice message with acaller identifier, the caller identifier associated with the secondcommunication device.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:prompting the user of the first communication device to acknowledge theincoming call request; receiving an input from the user of the firstcommunication device; and sending the acknowledgment indication inresponse to receiving the user input.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: prompting a caller associated with the second communicationdevice to leave a voicemail message; and recording a voicemail messagefrom the caller.
 7. A system for acknowledging an incoming callcomprising: a media server; and a switch, the switch configured to:receive an incoming call request addressed to a first communicationdevice from a second communication device; forward the incoming callrequest to the first communication device; receive an acknowledgmentindication from the first communication device that the incoming callrequest has been received by a user of the first communication device;and initiate the delivery of an acknowledgment voice message to thesecond communication device.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mediaserver is configured to: send a reminder message to the firstcommunication device if the user of the first communication device hasnot initiated a return call to the second communication device within apredetermined time period.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein thepredetermined time period is set by the user of the first communicationdevice.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the acknowledgement voicemessage comprises a pre-recorded audio message.
 11. The system of claim9, wherein the acknowledgment voice message is generated by the user andassociated with a caller identifier, the caller identifier associatedwith the second communication device.
 12. The system of claim 9, whereinthe acknowledgment indication is received in response to an input by theuser.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the media server is furtherconfigured to: prompt a caller associated with the second communicationdevice to leave a voicemail message; and record a voicemail message fromthe caller.
 14. A first communication device for acknowledging anincoming call comprising: a display; a user interface; a memoryconfigured to store computer readable instructions; and a processor, theprocessor configured to retrieve and execute the computer readableinstructions operable to: receive an incoming call request from a secondcommunication device; and generate an acknowledgment indication that auser of the first communication device has received the incoming callrequest and will not be answering the incoming call request.
 15. Thefirst communication device of claim 14, wherein the display isconfigured to display the incoming call request to the user.
 16. Thefirst communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to send the acknowledgment indication to a media server,wherein the media server is configured to send an acknowledgment messageto the second communication device in response to receiving theacknowledgement indication.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein theacknowledgement message comprises a text message.
 18. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the acknowledgement message comprises an audiomessage.
 19. The first communication device of claim 14, wherein theprocessor is further configured to receive a reminder message if theuser of the first communication device has not initiated a return callto the second communication device within a predetermined time period.20. The first communication device of claim 14, wherein generating theacknowledgment indication includes: prompting the user of the firstcommunication device to acknowledge the incoming call request; receivingan input from the user of the first communication device via the userinterface; and sending the acknowledgment indication in response toreceiving the user input.